Bolton v Portsmouth Premier League Preview: Can The Trotters get Back To Winning Ways Against Pompey?

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Bolton Wanderers play Tony Adams’ Portsmouth in the Premier League at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

The Trotters might go into this clash on the back of two straight defeats to Chelsea at the Reebok and then Aston Villa 4-2 at Villa Park last weekend, but won four of their previous five Premiership games, which earned Bolton boss Gary Megson the Barclays Manager of the Month award for November. However, Bolton have only won twice in the league at home this season and have only managed to score 6 times in front of their own fans, which is a cause of concern for Megson. Bolton, are 11th in table and will hope to collect all 3 points against Portsmouth.

Pompey were soundly beaten last time out 3-0 by Newcastle United at Fratton Park, but were unbeaten in their five league games before that. With, wins against Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers and draws with West Ham United, Hull City and West Bromwich Albion. While Bolton have found goals hard to come by at home, Portsmouth have struggled to find the net away from home and go into this clash 3 points above Bolton in 8th place in the Premier League.

Gary Megson has almost a full squad of players to choose from for this clash with Pompey, with only Joey O’Brien (thigh) and long-term injury Ricardo Vaz Te (knee) unavailable for the game at the Reebok on Saturday.

Portsmouth will be without Lassana Diarra, who is on his way to Real Madrid in January, while Glenn Johnson (knee), Younes Kaboul (ankle) and John Utaka (thigh) are all in a race to be fit in time to face Wanderers.

Bolton Wanderers: (from) Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Nolan, Cahill, Muamba, Taylor, Elmander, Smolarek, Gardner, Davies, Steinsson, Riga, McCann, Al Habsi, Shittu, Cohen, Sinclair, Fojut, Harsanyi, Basham, A O’Brien, Sissons, Obadeyi

Portsmouth: (from) James, Kaboul, Lauren, Johnson, Hreidarsson, Diop, Crouch, Nugent, Thomas, Defoe, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka, Mvuemba, Kranjcar, Ashdown, Hughes, Campbell, Duffy, Little, Sahar, Kanu, Davis, Christophe, A Traore, Begovic, D Traore, Wilson, Belhadj

Villa v Bolton Premier League Preview: Can The Trotters Halt The Villans Charge Into Top Four?

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Aston Villa play, Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League at Villa Park on Saturday.

Martin O’Neill’s Villa side go into this match with Bolton on a 4-game unbeaten run, which has seen the Villans win at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal and more recently last Sunday at 3-2 at Goodison Park against Everton. Despite this run, Villa have failed to win their last three games at Villa Park, with O’Neill’s side drawing 0-0 against both Manchester United and Fulham and losing 2-1 to Middlesbrough. However, the Midlands club are 5th in the Premiership and just a point off the Champions League places.

The Trotters might have lost last weekend 2-0 to Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium, but have still won 4 of their last 6 matches in the Premiership, with wins against Sunderland, Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Hull City. Megson will be buoyed that Wanderers have taken more points away from home so far this season, but concerned about Bolton’s form at the Reebok, usually a hard place to get a result. With Bolton’s eratic home form seeing them only mid-table in 10th place in the Premier League.

Aston Villa, will be without striker John Carew, who has a back injury, while O’Neill is still unable to call on long-term absentee Wilfred Bouma, who is still six weeks away from a return to the Villans side with an ankle injury.

Gary Megson has almost a full compliment of players to choose from ahead of the trip to Villa Park, with only long-term injury Ricardo Vaz Te (knee) unavailable for the Trotters.

Aston Villa: (from) Friedel, Shorey, L Young, Laursen, Davies, Sidwell, Barry, Milner, A Young, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Guzan, Cuellar. Gardner, Osbourne

Bolton Wanderers: (from) Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Nolan, Samuel, Cahill, Muamba, Taylor, J O’Brien, Elmander, Smolarek, Gardner, Davies, Steinsson, Riga, McCann, Al Habsi, Shittu, Cohen, Sinclair, Fojut, Harsanyi, Basham, A O’Brien, Sissons